If I want to copy text from a file in vi to another file, I have to highlight the text, Control-Shift-C it, quit the first file, open the second, and then paste it via Control-Shift-V. It feels like there must be an easier way to do this - that is, keyboard commands only. Any suggestions?
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3 Answers
While editing a file you can use :e filename to open another file and :rew to return to the original file like this:
- open original file
vi foo - yank text e.g.
yy(yank a line) - open a second file to edit
ESC :e bar - put your text
p(then save:w) - go back to the first file
ESC :rew
answered Aug 20, 2010 at 17:25
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personally I like using vim's tabs... e.g.
:tabe filenamethen usinggtto switch tabs. also you can enter visual mode withvthen useyto yank multiple lines. or usem'y(mark for beginning of yank) andyyto yank multiple lines. Aug 21, 2010 at 2:17
vim can be set up with X clipboard support. Pass --with-x=yes to configure if your distribution does not bundle vim with X support. By default the X clipboard is available as the * buffer and the X cut board (selection) is available as the " buffer, so selecting a region and typing "+y will yank the selection to the X cut board, and "*y will yank to the X clipboard. Similarly, "*p will paste from the X clipboard and "+p from the X selection.
You can set the default (anonymous) buffer in vim to be the X clipboard by running set clipboard=unnamed. Then you can just y and p from the X clipboard directly.
Sure:
- Open your file:
vi foo - In your file, open the second: ESC :open bar
- Return to the first: ESC :prev
- To copy the content of the file: ESC :1,$ y
- To go the next file: ESC :n
- Paste it: ESC p
Maybe there's a shorter way?
